A Glimpse into Diagnostic to Therapeutic EUS, With or Without Complications

Aims Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) gained a wide acceptance as the diagnostic and minimally invasive therapeutic approach of intra-luminal, extraluminal gastrointestinal and various non- gastrointestinal lesions. Since its introduction, EUS has undergone substantial and constant technological advances. Hence, the aim of this study was to extensively assess in dynamic the EUS experience of our tertiary referral centre.

Methods This study is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database of patients who underwent EUS for the evaluation of benign and malignant diseases of the upper/middle/lower GI tract and of the organs in its proximity. All EUS procedures data recorded patients’ demographics, referral details and indications, provisional diagnosis, management plan, technical success, complications. EUS-FNA/FNB dataset included site, number of passes, cytological and histological diagnosis.

Results A total of 2086 patients undergoing EUS between 2001- 2020 were included. Procedures were carried out under deep propofol sedation (64 %) or conscious sedation (36 %). Therapeutic procedures performed included EUS-guided fine needle aspiration/biopsy (37 %) and endoscopic transmural drainage of pancreatic fluid collections (9 %), celiac plexus block and neurolysis(<1 %). Contrast enhanced-EUS (36 %) and real time elastography (10 %) were conducted. Indications for EUS were: pancreatobiliary (1367), esophageal & gastric/duodenal (338), mediastinum & lungs (124), liver (95), colorectal (122), retroperitoneal (40) lesions. Technical difficulties encountered were correlated to unpassable luminal strictures. Most complications occurred during the first 7 days after EUS-FNA/FNB or pseudocyst drainage, thus 1.5 % of the patients presented: acute pancreatitis, infections, bile peritonitis and hemorrhage. 77 % of these patients recovered with conservatory therapy whilst 33 % required surgical intervention.

Conclusions This is the first report of a large single centre EUS experience over the past 20 years. EUS and the additional tools have high technical success rates and low rates of complications. The EUS methods are safe, cost effective and indispensable for the diagnostic or therapeutic management in gastroenterological everyday practice.

Citation Cherciu Harbiyeli IF, Ivan ET¹, Burtea ED et al. eP399 A GLIMPSE INTO DIAGNOSTIC TO THERAPEUTIC EUS, WITH OR WITHOUT COMPLICATIONS. Endoscopy 2021; 53: S227.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 March 2021